rheumatoid arthritis: Meaning and Definition of

rheu'matoid arthri'tis

Pronunciation: [key]
— Pathol. Pathol.
  1. a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, frequently accompanied by marked deformities, and ordinarily associated with manifestations of a general, or systemic, affliction.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.